The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary

Very nice Sue sanctuary sanctuary. These are all rescued animals. cages are a little small. Animals pace a lot

My family and I have been here a few times and it is a really fun place to bring the little ones. I really like that this place is also a sanctuary for animals who have been rescued.
Parking is easy! Just past the library and near the park.
Admission is affordable! Seniors get discounts!
You could easily tour the zoo within a few hours so take your time! we enjoyed the mountain lions, regular lions, tigers, monkeys, peacocks, farm animals, and deer! We didn’t get to see the Bears though.
Food is limited. Just bring snacks and water for the kids!

Neat little zoo! Nothing like the Sacramento Zoo but for a small town zoo sanctuary, it’s awesome. They have tigers. Fun family outing or date night. At Christmastime it’s all lit up. Def. check that out!

Perfect little zoo for family with little kiddos! Does not have many different or exotic animals, but just enough to wow the little kids without overwhelming them. Plus there’s a playground and train ride right next to it! Nephews loved it so much here that they didn’t want to leave!

Great for young kids. Our child was able to get close to the Tiger and Deer. She loved it! We went early on a Tuesday and there was no one there. We had the entire zoo to ourselves for almost 30 minutes.

the highlight of our little trip up here to the Sacramento area. happy to visit and support the good things the sanctuary is doing!!!
the kids and I were amazed to see tigers and bears so up close, but the peacocks roaming and braying about were a little unsettling, lol.
the train ride was really cool, too. the conductor was especially friendly and knowledgeable.

The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary is a great way to see a variety of rescued animals up close with clean conditions and ample enclosures. Free parking and $ 6 a person on the weekends gets you a few hours of education & awe at some of these majestic creatures. It was a bit of drive to reach the Sanctuary from the East Bay area, but I had mapped out a day in the Folsom area so it was completely worthwhile.
On a cooler winter day the larger mammals were all pretty active & visible. We were able to see a tiger walking about, a black bear wading in his pool, a coyote resting in the sun, a fox napping up high, deer relaxing in the shade, a wolf stand up and howl and my favorite, the Mountain Lion enclosure! For those of you who also admire our bird friends, there were several peacocks roaming about, as well as Golden Eagles and owls to gaze at. It was very impressive to see these animals active and very apparently well cared for.
Just to be clear they are here because they are not able to survive in the wild. Each enclosure features a history of the animals living there as well as general education about their species. I can’t emphasize enough how impressed I was with the cleanliness and ample size of their spaces. It was surprising to see the Mountain Lions out during the day, comfortably napping up high and others climbing around their structure. That says to me that they are happy and okay with their surroundings (not that I am zoologist or anything-​just saying-​lol!) Even the deer had their own small canyon area with a stream and plenty of room to run around.
If you have kids I can easily see spending a few hours here. Because it’s located in the Folsom City Park, you can add to your day by visiting the playground and having a picnic. For my boyfriend and I with no children in tow, we spent about 2 hours there. The animals were so active and it was a lot of fun to see them interacting with their environments. Support the Folsom City Zoo by visiting, donating and letting others know about it. What they are doing for these animals is wonderful. Enjoy!

I love this Animal Sanctuary, I really do.
My dad was recently put into a care home and it happens to be within walking distance of this zoo. After a visit one day, my mom and I decided to revisit this zoo. It is small, quaint and adorable. We paid $ 5 on a weekday for an hour of adorable animals. The enclosures here are quite large and the animals seem happy and well taken care of. They also have resident peacocks that roam freely and are quite beautiful.
This zoo is very small, but worth it to go. It is a little on the hilly side, so it may be a little difficult to maneuver if in a wheelchair or have difficulty walking.

I am not a fan of zoos — seeing animals in cages depresses me. But all the animals in this zoo/​wildlife sanctuary are there because they were not suited to their natural habitat or because they have been abused and can not return to the wild. The animals look well cared for. Don’t miss the brown eagles — they are magnificent. The facility is small — we were in and out in an hour. Staff is friendly and helpful. $ 5 for adults is a great deal.

Just to help set expectations I am writing another review because there are a lot of uninformed/​uneducated people out there. This is a sanctuary. A place were all of the animals have been rescued from poor conditions, not taken from the wild. If you want to see more wild animals that shouldn’t be in captivity go to Africa. Don’t complain that there aren’t more of them here for your viewing pleasure. Sure you could go to a lot of zoos in other places but most of them have obtained animals by plucking them from their habitat. Not what I am willing to support. I do wish Folsom could drum up more money to make this sanctuary space bigger for the animals it has but that can’t happen without a lot of support.

So this review is specifically for Wild Nights and Holiday Lights at the Folsom Zoo. WOW!!! What a fabulous family event this was. The whole zoo was lit up with millions of Christmas lights all throughout the park. All the walkways were lit, the trees, the cages, the bridges, etc. I mean seriously gorgeous to get you into the Christmas spirit. BRING YOUR CAMERA. Different organizations from throughout the community donated their time, decorations and decorated Christmas trees that just make the whole zoo sparkle with holiday love and tradition. There were numerous company mascots that were cute like River Cats Dinger, Chik Fila Cow, a bear, a Easter Bunny, etc. SANTA CLAUSE himself was even there for pics with the kids.
You dont see too many animals since its night time and its cold but the ones you do see up close are pretty awesome. Numerous big black bears who were pretty active, Wolves who were active, some deer, owl and a few other nocturnal creatures.
They also had FOODTRUCKS and an entertainer outside the gates at the park but thats another fantastic Unilocal review in itself. It was WONDERFUL. Fantastic for kids, so romantic for couples and you can even go alone to enjoy the Christmas beauty.
It goes on another 2 nights I think… Tonite (Friday Dec 18 and Sat Dec 19). AND… ITS ONLY $ 5.00. Thats right. ONLY $ 5.00.

I used to come to this zoo as a child… Today I came here with my grandma and my toddler! It was wonderful. They have done so much updating to this zoo. They made an entirely new section to the zoo, making it bigger. There is also a train to ride and kiddos love it! Also, a nice big grassy area for picnics and a playground. I will be returning here! Very cool little zoo.

I went here with my boyfriend on the 11^th of August. Considering the size of the zoo, which was smaller than most zoos, and the variety of animals we saw, I have to say 5 dollars is a good deal. As we ventured throughout the zoo, we spotted wolves, bears, eagles, monkeys, a peacock, mules/​donkeys, raccoons, and deer. A lot of the other animals were not visible due to the hot temperatures, but I wouldn’t blame the zoo. If I were one of these animals, even I would want to hide in the shade to cool off from the sun. It was around 95 degrees that day. Of the animals that we did see, we were really excited about them! It was really cool seeing these animals up close.
I have to say that the cages were adequate sizes for each particular animal. They were quite big and had a lot of room for the animals to roam around. Some animals like the peacock and deer were roaming around the nature that surrounded the zoo.

Small animal sanctuary that has animals that would not be able to survive in the wild. Everything from the very cool (tigers, mountain lions, black bears, eagles) to the «hey look at that» (deer, squirrel monkeys, ravens) to the «uhhh???» (skunks, ferral cats). All in all, only $ 6/​adult — a fun way to kill an afternoon.

What a great place to bring your family. The zoo is perfect for all ages. It’s a safe and clean environment for the family. The zoo had a great message for all of us to learn, take memories, leave the wildlife in the wild.

This was a very reasonably priced day trip for me and my five year old son. We saw tigers, bears, deer, donkeys, monkeys.etc. Beautiful peacocks freely roam the property as well. We also took a three dollar train ride on the mini steam train. All in all a great day trip!

Absolutely in love with this underappreciated Sacramento gem. Two words, people: Bears & Wolves. You can make it through the zoo pretty quickly, but they’re playing a very important role in not only enriching young minds but providing help for animals in need.

This is a nice rescue sanctuary/​zoo. I saw pumas and tigers and bears (oh my!). I also got to pet a friendly deer. However, the tiger enclosure is WAY too small.

This is an awesome zoo/​sanctuary! This place is very nice and clean compared to the sac zoo which sucks btw. It’s in a great location! My son loves it here, not too many animals to see but overall it’s still a fun place to visit and to learn fun facts about the rescued animals. There is also a cool clean park for the kids to play right outside the zoo entrance so that’s a plus. I can’t wait for our next visit

This was a great place. I actually preferred it to the Sacramento Zoo (which sucks, in my honest opinion). We especially loved the Deer… she was so friendly! She licked my and my son’s hand! It was such a cool experience. The only downside was that the volunteers were very… lackluster about the whole thing. I asked for some info about the sanctuary since we’d never been there, and they handed me a map and gave my son a stamp for his hand and sent us on our way. Oh well, nothing’s perfect I guess!

Do not let the title imply this is something it is not: a zoo. This is really a sanctuary that you will most likely only be able to view cattle and peacocks.
Our niece got reaaaallly excited when she saw the birds… that were hopping freely on the sidewalk and not at all part of the paid for experience. *sigh*

Fun little rescue zoo. They have wolfs, wolf-​dogs, coyotes, foxes, bears, tigers, birds, and more. It doesn’t take long to experience the place, maybe an hour, two tops, but its a fun environment. The price is great for the size and enjoyment level. I have gone with my parents and my boyfriend on separate occasions. I would take young kids here, its not as exhausting as larger zoos.

You know its a really small zoo but the way it came to be is a really nice story. Came here on a groupon and so it was cheap which is a plus. I like how kid friendly it is with ramps instead of steps all over the place. I additionally enjoyed the philosophy of taking in animals that were harmed and sharing their story with the children. It brings about more awareness in regards to animal cruelty and how we need to be more caring and kind toward our furry friends. It had interactive parts to it as well. The only thing that was a downer was how small it was and how small some of the cages were. also a lot of the animals were gone. All in all, I would recommend going, but I think only once or twice is about all Im going to go.

During the Christmas school break we were looking for something different to do with our teenage boys one afternoon after lunch out. We looked on Groupon for ideas and found a deal for the Folsom Zoo. I didn’t know what to expect, but it was such a good deal I figured why not. I was pleasantly surprised. This is a small zoo, or more accurately a rescue animal sanctuary. There were a good mix of animals. We saw coyotes, bears, tigers, monkeys, deer, goats, owls, hybrid wolves and many different species of birds. The grounds were clean and neat and each one of the enclosures were clearly labeled with the animal species and in most cases a story of how the Folsom Zoo ended up caring for the animal inside.
Bottom line: I was impressed by the Folsom Zoo and would love to go back and visit again. I can’t wait to take my niece and nephew next time they are in town.

The Folsom Zoo Sanctuary (FZS) has been in existence and run by the City of Folsom since 1963. The FZS is not your typical zoo; they are a sanctuary for the injured and orphaned, as well as wild animals that have been raised by idiots who can no longer care for them. All the animals here have been deemed «non-​releasable,» and –if it weren’t for the FZS– would be dead. The FZS is not American Zoo and Aquarium (AZA) accredited because the FZS does not ascribe to the AZA’s code of ethics – which includes breeding, selling and trading animals. The FZS’s main focus is to «promote responsible and appropriate behavior toward all animals.» Most of the animals here are native to North America, and a majority of them are pretty common everyday ones (e.g., owls, coyotes, parrots, etc.), but every animal here has a special story that is written on each of their pens. Here are a few key details to know before your visit to FZS:
Parking– The FZS is located inside Lions Park, and there is plenty of street parking available, if you can find it. Otherwise, there are two free parking lots: the primary one by the library, and there’s an overflow lot also available by Rodeo Park at the end of Stafford St. Once you’re parked, just follow the signage.
Hours– The zoo is typically open every Tuesday-​Sunday from 10:00 a.m. — 4 p.m. I would recommend checking the website (
) for their holiday hours and closures.
Fee– Weekdays: 0 – 1 Free; 2 – 12 $ 4; 12 – 64 $ 5; 65+ $ 4
Weekends: 0 – 1 Free; 2 – 12 $ 5; 12 – 64 $ 6; 65+ $ 5
Employees– All the employees we talked to here at FZS were really nice and eager to answer any questions. They have some cool educational booths scattered throughout; the docents manning the booths were very well-​educated on the exhibits they were presenting, and a joy to talk to.
Layout– The zoo itself isn’t very big, but the design is really simple and easy to navigate. The signage is clear and the grounds are kept clean and litter-​free.
Exhibits– All the animals looked cared for, and in good spirits. They all seemed to be fairly active when we were there and the exhibits themselves had good sightlines. My favorite was the Black Bears, as they were extremely active climbing the rocks and swimming in the water features.
The FZS is not the biggest zoo you’ll come across in size, but I think it has the biggest heart. You can probably see the whole thing in about an hour, if you just breeze through – but I would recommend stopping and reading the story cards by each pen; some will break your heart, and others will make you smile, but they will all entertain you. If you find yourself in Folsom, and feel the need to visit animals in cages, I highly recommend you visit the furry kind here at the FZS. #FolsomPrisonBlues

What a great sanctuary to visit. There are way more animals than you’d expect, and they have plenty of shade and misters to deal with the heat. Tigers, bears, deer, monkeys, eagles, peacocks, donkeys, roosters, and much more.
They all have names and stories to read about, great to occupy the older kids. If you like to photograph animals, it’s a must see.
Also if you like to photograph your family, same thing! It’s beyond reasonable to get in, and the train ride was really fun for the kids. I highly recommend this little spot for kids and grow ups alike. It is small, so you can squeeze it in with other nearby activities.

So, it is the smallest zoo I’ve ever been to, but it’s only $ 5 for adults and $ 4 for kids (age 2 and under are free I think). It doesn’t get super crowded, and there are plenty of stairs and ramps for little kids to run around on. Since there is only one exit and not a ton of paths, you can feel pretty safe letting your kid run ahead of you on the trail (not exactly the case in Land Park).
All of the animals here are rescued, so you don’t have to feel as bad as usual about them being locked up. They have all of the basics, like (mountain) lions, tigers, bears, monkeys, plus cats, crows, eagles, peacocks, parrots, raccoons, skunks (or as my daughter calls them, «stunks») etc.
Overall it is a pretty good zoo for little kids, because they get to see the animals they’re most curious about without getting completely overwhelmed by a whole day of walking.

You get to enjoy some BIG, amazing surprises and moments here for such a small zoo. Before we even entered, we enjoyed the sight of a peacock roaming around the outskirts as a prelude of things to come. Inside, there were many more roaming around flaunting their tail feathers. We were also surprised by the endearing sight of a parrot and rooster making friends and bonding with each other. In another section, we enjoyed the sight of a bear splashing around in his pool like a kid!
An amazing variety of animals is represented for such a small space and they are all well taken care of. Here’s a list of what I can remember: a boa, monkeys, foxes, skunk, mountain lions, peacocks, tigers, ducks, a rooster, parrots (Macaws and an Amazon), deer, brown bear, black bear, a horse, hawk, golden eagles, ravens, barn owl, a section for wolves (but didn’t see them). The place is well taken care of and has a nice layout so you get a nice, scenic walk in, and you can see all the animals in about an hour.